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Federal EDA grants awarded to 8 WV economic development projects

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Eight economic development projects in West Virginia will receive grants totaling more than $7 million from the federal Economic Development Authority, according to U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin.

Capito, along with EDA Assistant Secretary Dr. John Fleming, announced the grants during a handful of stops Monday in the Mountain State.

According to Capito, West Virginia has for too long missed out on money available through the EDA.

“After speaking with EDA leadership directly and securing a commitment from the EDA to reprioritize rural communities often lacking access to capital, today West Virginia is finally getting its fair share to build an ecosystem for entrepreneurship where small businesses and communities can thrive,” Capito said.

During an appearance Monday on MetroNews “Talkline,” Capito said the money awarded will be joined with other money from a variety of sources,

“We’re on the map here and this is what we need to do to maximum our resources,” she said.

Fleming said the $7 million will be able to leverage “15 times that.”

“It comes from local community match as well as much more private sector investment into the tens of millions of dollars,” Fleming said on “Talkline.”

The money will retain jobs, create jobs and boost salaries along with helping the state diversify its economy, Fleming said.

“EDA specifically targets $30 million a year in appropriations to go through technical assistance and also changing the type of businesses and manufacturing away from coal and other forms of energy,” he said.

Capito and Manchin both serve on the Senate Appropriation Committee,

The grant amount and a description of the projects according to Capito’s office include:

· The city of Philippi will receive $2 million to extend exiting sewer infrastructure approximately three miles along U.S. Routes 119/250 to serve the Arch Coal Sentinel/Leer South mine. The grant, to be matched with $500,000 in local funds, is expected to help create 150 jobs, retain 450 jobs, and spur $360 million in private investment. The new state-of-the art long-wall mining operation will directly support the growing domestic steel production sector in addition to expanding exporting to meet the global need in the coking and thermal industry markets. The project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by Region 7 Planning and Development Council.

· The Pocahontas Public Service District in Bartow will receive $1.5 million to make sanitary sewer infrastructure improvements needed to help the county’s largest manufacturer, Inter-State Hardwoods, expand into a new 50,000 square-foot facility. The improved sewer infrastructure will also serve approximately six additional businesses. The grant, to be matched with $900,000 in state funds and $600,000 in other federal funding, is expected to help create 60 jobs, retain 153 jobs and spur $3.5 million in private investment. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Region 4 Planning and Development Council (PDC). EDA funds the Region 4 PDC to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

· The town of Capon Bridge will receive $1.2 million to support the growth of the manufacturing sector by provide sewer infrastructure to serve the Capon Bridge Business and Technology Park. The grant, to be matched with $1 million in state funds and $300,500 in local funds, is expected to help create 43 jobs, retain 23 jobs, and generate $2.6 million in private investment. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Region 8 PDC.

The Putnam Public Service District in Scott Depot will receive $860,000 to make sewer service improvements needed to support a state-of-the-art service and parts center for high-end commercial and vocational trucks. The grant, to be matched with $215,000 in local funds, is expected to help create 20 jobs, retain 20 jobs, and generate $5 million in private investment. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Regional Intergovernmental Council.

· The Business Development Corporation (BDC) of the Northern Panhandle in Weirton will receive $750,000 to purchase the equipment for 20 welding booths that will enable the BDC and West Virginia Community Technical College to provide an industry-supported 20-week welding training program to assist the region with filling a critical employment shortage. The grant, to be matched with $590,000 in state funding, is expected to help create 208 jobs and generate $8.3 million in private investment. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Brooke-Hancock Planning and Development Council.

· The West Virginia Coalition for Technology Based Economic Development in South Charleston will receive $500,000 to help launch the TechWrx West Virginia entrepreneurial development initiative, which will provide an entrepreneur development and assessment tool, stage entrepreneurial expos that will benefit 40 counties, and provide enhanced commercialization opportunities for regional entrepreneurs. The project also includes Opportunity Zone training for entrepreneurs and startups. The grant, to be matched with $125,000 in state funds, is expected to help create 25 jobs, retain 50 jobs, and generate $2 million in private investment.

· The Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning and Development Council in Martinsburg will receive $150,000 to design and engineer roadway and other infrastructure improvements needed to open 526 acres of land to manufacturing and commercial entities while also accommodating the expansion plans of the local community college. The grant will be matched with $150,000 in local funds.

· Marshall University Research Corporation in Huntington will receive $57,375 to enable the Robert C. Byrd Institute to complete a regional workforce analysis for 23 counties in central and southern West Virginia. The analysis will specifically focus on the diversification of the economy that has declined as a result of the downturn in the coal industry. The grant, to be matched with $57,375 in local funds, is expected to generate $54,875 in private investment through Appalachian Power’s commitment to the project.





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